Messi to miss Cup rematch

Madrid, Sept. 1: Argentina captain Lionel Messi will miss his side’s friendly against world champions Germany on Wednesday due to a groin strain, his club side Barcelona confirmed on Monday.

The match offers Argentina an immediate chance for revenge for their agonising 1- 0 extratime defeat to Germany in the World Cup final last month. Messi suffered the injury in Barca’s 1- 0 win away to Villarreal on Sunday and will also miss a charity match in Rome on Monday.

“Leo Messi will remain in Barcelona as a precaution due to a strain in his right adductor,” Barca said in a statement on their website.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Mesut Ozil is also unlikely to play in the friendly.

Arsenal midfielder Ozil did not join team mates on Monday in Duesseldorf for the first time since their World Cup victory 50 days ago and will fly in on Tuesday after nursing a minor injury.

“It looks very tough for Wednesday for Mesut,” Bierhoff said. “Hopefully, he will be fit for Sunday.” Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart have withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for international matches against Italy and the Czech Republic, the Dutch football association said on Monday.

Robben has an ankle injury, Huntelaar is sick and Van der Vaart a muscle strain. All three players are Bundesliga- based.

Attacking midfielder Luciano Narsingh of PSV Eindhoven has been called up as cover as the squad numbers have been cut from 25 to 23.